The king of love my shepherd is
Green pastures, still waters, souls restored
Fellow Pilgrims,
A meditation on the goodness of God, in digital collage, the words of the 23rd Psalm, and the hymn “The King of Love my Shepherd is” by H.W. Baker.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
“Green pastures,” digital collage by Beth Felker Jones. Photos of lambs from Root and Sky Farm, courtesy of Tiffany Kriner. Quote from “Good shepherd” (1918) by Tadeusz Makowski. Hi-res images, without the watermark, are available for purchase at my buy me a coffee page.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2).
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
“Still waters,” digital collage by Beth Felker Jones, with AI generated lambs. Quote from “The shepherdess” (1903) by Albert Baure. Hi-res images, without the watermark, are available for purchase at my buy me a coffee page.
“he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake” (Psalm 23:2-3).
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
“Fear no ill,” digital collage by Beth Felker Jones. Photos of lambs from Root and Sky Farm, courtesy of Tiffany Kriner. Hi-res images, without the watermark, are available for purchase at my buy me a coffee page.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Pslam 23:4).
In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
“Good shepherd,” digital collage by Beth Felker Jones. Photo of lambs from Root and Sky Farm, courtesy of Tiffany Kriner. Hi-res images, without the watermark, are available for purchase at my buy me a coffee page.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23:5-6).
Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
The collages featured in today’s post are available for purchase—hi-res, without the watermark—at my buy me a coffee page. Thanks for your support of Church Blogmatics!
Grace & peace,
BFJ
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